Blood-Horse

Ocean Breeze may be named as if she was meant for racing on one of the coasts, but her talent is taking her to America's heartland for the $100,000 Iowa Oaks (G3) at Prairie Meadows July 5.

Enable makes her eagerly anticipated return July 5 in a star-studded edition of the Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) at Sandown, but her connections have stressed it is only the first stop in another ambitious campaign for their leading lady.

Arnaldo Monge and trainer Rey Hernandez' Finnick the Fierce and JRita Young Thoroughbreds' Man in the Can, two horses expected to make their next starts in the $600,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) July 11 at Keeneland, each turned in bullet works July 4.

Champion Monomoy Girl breezed a half-mile in company in :49.32 on a muddy Belmont Park main track July 4 in preparation for the $150,000 Ruffian Stakes (G2) there July 11.

A one-stop guide to the July 4 graded stakes races from NTRA and BloodHorse through capsule looks and entries. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern).

Ocean Breeze may be named as if she was meant for racing on one of the coasts, but her talent is taking her to America's heartland for the $100,000 Iowa Oaks (G3) at Prairie Meadows July 5.

Sovereign Award winner Avie's Flatter seeks a return to winning ways July 4 in the CA$175,000 Eclipse Stakes (G2) at Woodbine but will have to take on three-time stakes winner Cooler Mike, who is in pursuit of his first graded score.

Ava's Grace became the first winner for freshman sire Laoban by closing from fifth to win a $20,200 maiden special weight race July 3 in her debut at Ellis Park.

Piece of My Heart tops a field of eight in the $300,000 Delaware Oaks (G3) July 4 at Delaware Park, a 1 1/16-mile event that offers points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks for the first time. The Kent Stakes (G3T) is on the undercard.

English King may have been the Investec Derby (G1) favorite for the past month, but nobody appreciates the size of his task better than his trainer.

After rallying from ninth place—10 lengths back early—to win last year's Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3), Sir Anthony will try for a repeat win in the 1 1/8-mile test July 5.

Popular rider Miguel Mena hit milestone win number 2,000 after taking the fifth race July 3 at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky. The victory came aboard Michael Langford's Substantial ($6.80) in a one-mile maiden race on the turf for trainer Randy Morse. 

Trainer Aidan O'Brien's heart will beat a little quicker than normal if the rain arrives at Epsom July 4 as Love, the short-priced favorite for the Investec Oaks (G1), would have a preference for good ground.

Finite, the third-ranked 3-year-old filly on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard with 80 qualifying points, recorded her first workout since finishing fourth in the March 21 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) when she breezed a half-mile in :50 1/5 July 3.

Colonial Downs announced July 3 that its 2020 Thoroughbred meeting would begin July 27 with provisions for a limited number of spectators in attendance in an 18-day season that concludes Sept. 2.

WinStar Farm's freshman sire Outwork was represented by his first winner when Garoppolo took a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight early on the July 3 Belmont Park card.

Team Valor International's grade 1 winner Oleksandra came out of a June  20 victory in the Jaipur Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park with a fractured left front splint bone and may miss the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Keeneland.

Dave Liftin analyzes the July 4 cross-country pick five.

Flintshire Farm and Brad Sears want claims dismissed related to the sale of the stakes winner and broodmare prospect Lemoona.

Another twist and turn of fate has brought together the top three finishers from the 2019 closing leg of the Triple Crown for a firecracker July 4 edition of the $200,000 Suburban Stakes (G2).